Buyer

Buyer

Location: Holland, MI

Schedule: Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–4:00 PM or 8:00 AM–5:00 PM

Job Type: Full-Time

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced and proactive Buyer to support procurement and material planning activities within a manufacturing environment. This position is responsible for procuring and monitoring the movement of materials to meet production requirements while maintaining appropriate inventory levels, quality standards, cost targets, and delivery schedules.

The ideal candidate will have experience in purchasing, procurement, supplier management, and inventory planning , along with strong analytical skills and advanced Excel and ERP system knowledge.

Candidates who demonstrate a strong sense of urgency, accountability, organization, and proactive communication will be highly valued.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage daily procurement activities and supplier relationships.
• Procure materials based on engineering requirements, production schedules, and inventory needs.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, contracts, and other supplier agreements.
• Monitor inventory levels and support demand planning activities.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities and conduct purchasing and cost analysis.
• Resolve supplier performance, quality, and delivery issues.
• Manage daily New Buy, Late, and Kanban reports and follow up on required actions.
• Establish and manage internal and external Kanban programs and assist suppliers with program implementation.
• Create, modify, and cease supplier VMI agreements as needed.
• Conduct indirect purchasing and process purchase requisitions.
• Assist with annual sourcing goals, including new supplier qualification, RFQs, renegotiations, and cost-reduction initiatives.
• Research and communicate engineering change order (ECO) cost impacts to internal departments.
• Assist with supplier notifications and purchase order updates related to ECOs.
• Perform new part setup and maintenance within the ERP system.
• Analyze bills of materials for cost and lead-time accuracy.
• Monitor supplier performance through scorecards, corrective action plans, audits, and site visits as needed.
• Work with suppliers, inspectors, engineers, and internal teams to resolve quality issues and non-conformances.
• Collaborate with global procurement teams on cost-saving initiatives and supplier projects.
• Partner with operations, planning, logistics, engineering, finance, and other cross-functional teams.
• Assist with receiving, incoming inspection, and accounts payable discrepancies to ensure goods are properly received, returned, and paid.
• Assist with inventory audits and reconciliation activities.
• Participate in continuous improvement, Kaizen events, and procurement process improvement initiatives.
• Assist with spend audits and make recommendations regarding purchasing and cost management.
• Assist with monthly department safety audits and reporting.
• Assist with month-end reconciliation and purchasing-related reports.
• Reconcile company purchasing card activity through Concur.
• Support procurement goals related to supplier quality and on-time delivery.
• Perform other duties and projects as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, International Business, or a related field preferred.
• Equivalent relevant education and experience may be considered.
• 1–3 years of purchasing, procurement, supply chain, or related experience.
• Supply chain coursework or professional certifications are a plus.
• Experience working in a manufacturing environment preferred.
• Experience managing supplier relationships and inventory-related activities.

Required Skills

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel .
• Experience with ERP systems;
  Oracle experience is a plus.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to analyze bills of materials, costs, and lead times.
• Strong negotiation and supplier management skills.
• Excellent organizational and multitasking abilities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Ability to identify and resolve purchasing, supplier, inventory, and quality issues.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy.
• Ability to work independently while managing multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Proactive approach to communication and problem-solving.

What You'll Do

This role offers the opportunity to make a direct impact on material availability, supplier performance, purchasing costs, inventory management, and continuous improvement in a manufacturing environment. The successful candidate will work closely with suppliers and internal teams to ensure materials are available when needed while supporting quality, cost, and delivery objectives.

If you have purchasing or procurement experience and are ready to take on a hands-on role supporting manufacturing operations, apply today.